Glamis Arena Erupts as Castle Lager Braai Day Draws Thousands

By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka

Music and meat lovers turned up in their thousands at Glamis Arena on Saturday for this year’s Castle Lager Braai Day Festival, cementing its status as Zimbabwe’s biggest national braai.

By midday, the crowds had swelled as people thronged the venue — some travelling from as far as Masvingo, Marondera and Bindura to be part of the celebration on a sun-drenched day.

If you were not part of the crowd, you missed a festival that delivered on both its promises: ice-cold beer and a stacked musical lineup.

A giveaway price and a party atmosphere

The festival’s appeal was obvious from the moment attendees walked through the gates.

A six-pack of Castle Lager was selling for the price of five, while a litre of draught beer was going for a giveaway US$1. At those prices, the beer stalls dotted around the arena did brisk business throughout the day.

But it was not just about the drinks. Braai stands lined the venue, filling the air with smoke and the unmistakable scent of grilled meat. It was, as advertised, a true combination of meat and beer.

The weather made it easy for those who love their Castle Lagers cold to drink as much as they could, and the atmosphere was one of unbridled celebration.

Like any true festival, strangers became friends. Music lovers could be seen sharing everything from food to drinks, and some exchanged contacts — perhaps to catch up long after the Castle LAger Braai Day Festival is done and dusted.

Fashion and flair

Those who attended came dressed to the nines in high-end fashion currently trending — ladies in bum shorts and gents in casual attire matching the red colours of the flagship Castle Lager brand.

It was a crowd that came not just to watch, but to be seen.

The music: Winky D, Ex Q and Enzo Ishall deliver

More than 10 local artists and DJs rocked the crowds throughout the day, in a programme that balanced Zimbabwe’s biggest names with its emerging talent.

Headlining acts Winky D, Ex Q and Enzo Ishall — three of the country’s most bankable live performers — made their presence felt with high-energy sets that kept the crowd on its feet.

Other musicians who deserve mention were Atenda Chinx, Tamy Moyo and Bulawayo’s finest DJ Loz, whose inclusion reflects what organisers describe as Castle Lager’s continued commitment to supporting and celebrating Zimbabwean music talent.

The absence of Jnr Spragga, touted as the Zim dancehall man of the moment, did not dampen the mood. The Daka hitmaker missed the biggest stage after it was reported that he was taken ill before the concert.

It was his second time missing a major stage, having also been absent at last weekend’s Jacaranda Music Festival at Thornpark Polo Club. For Jnr Spragga, the Castle Lager Braai Day Festival and the Jacaranda Music Festival are Zimbabwe’s two biggest stages you do not want to miss.

Castle Braai O’Clock lives up to expectations

The festival’s centrepiece activation, Castle Braai O’Clock, lived up to expectations.

Held from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, the hour-long experience transformed the arena into a competitive braai ground, with the ultimate braai master contest and other engaging competitions drawing crowds.

Zimbabwe’s braai culture is not a side attraction. It is a social institution — the reason friends gather, the reason weekends exist, the reason WhatsApp groups go quiet on a Sunday afternoon.

By formalising it into a timed, competitive, prize-bearing activation, Castle Lager treated the braai as the headline act it has always been in Zimbabwean life, rather than as catering for the music.

The hour also solved a logistical problem familiar to anyone who has spent a full day at a festival. There is usually a lull between the afternoon and evening sets — the moment when energy dips and crowds drift. Castle Braai O’Clock filled that gap with a scheduled, communal moment.

A smooth production

And the production went smoothly until the end.

From the music to the meat, from the fashion to the beer, the Castle Lager Braai Day Festival delivered what organisers, Delta Beverages, had promised: a distinctive celebration of music, braai culture and shared enjoyment.

Phew, what a weekend it was.